Locally owned
Quick, can you name five local businesses in Spokane as fast as Ken Jennings can buzz in on “Jeopardy?” Auntie’s … Mountain Gear … Miller’s Hardware … Ron’s Drive-In … um, um, um. Time’s up. You’re short one answer. In an effort to eliminate drawing-a-blank responses, the Neighborhood Alliance of Spokane has started a program called Spokane Homegrown.
The first goal is to put a face on the mom-and-pop businesses that serve as a backbone to the community. The second is getting people to shop at them.
“We’ve been trying to launch a program like this for three years,” Neighborhood Alliance Director Bonnie Mager said.
The summer 2005 liftoff has been successful as more and more businesses are taking advantage of the alliance’s project.
The alliance, a nonprofit organization that serves as an umbrella agency for all neighborhood groups, is gathering information and sharing it on its Web site (www.neighborhood-alliance.org).
Participating businesses also display a Spokane Homegrown logo in their shop windows. The colorful sticker was designed by local artist Scott Wilhelm of Double-U-Designs.
“I think it’s a neat idea, and I like that they’re open to things we’re all concerned about,” said Carolynn Bohlman, owner of the Foxy Horse and Hound, 4247 S. Cheney-Spokane Road.
The primary concern is how does one successfully run a small business in a Wal-Mart world?
Mager, a resident and shopper of Cheney, said the idea for Homegrown Spokane came about after reading Michael Shuman’s “Going Local: Creating Self Reliant Communities in a Global Age.” The 1998 book explains how communities can help locally owned businesses.
Latisha Hill, chair of the Spokane Homegrown committee, said a nine-person committee is getting the word out by surveying small-business owners. Among the questions: What is the story behind your company or business? Why did you decide to locate in Spokane? What are the challenges and benefits of working in Spokane?
“Spokane seems to be a difficult place to start new company ideas, but maybe this is just the same in any location,” answered Tammy Wise, owner of CityClassifieds.us.
Mary Willard of Energy and Relaxation Therapeutics, 1636 W. First Ave., said the challenge is, “Alternative medicine is still gaining acceptance here in Spokane.” However, the benefit is, “I truly feel blessed by all of the people who have become my clients and family.”
Wise, a Spokane native, and Willard, who moved here with her husband in 2001, are two of the business owners whose information is posted on the alliance’s Web site. However, the list is growing daily.
The site also links visitors to the individual businesses’ homepages.
The Web site is designed by Ann Martinson, a Spokane Homegrown committee member who is passionate about supporting local merchants.
“It’s not about not going to your regular stores,” Martinson said, “It’s about having choices that include specialty stores or knowing someone like the landscaping guy, and passing his name along.”
Those interested in becoming affiliated, or who would like to recommend a business, should go to the Web site (www.neighborhood-alliance.org) or call 232-2772.